|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Ward (ranked 523 p4p, 192 weight class) and Dougal McCraken (ranked 65 p4p, 23 weight class). Ward comes to the cage accompanied by ERA - Ameno. The crowd seem to be enjoying McCraken's choice of entrance music: Bulgine. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!
 |
|
 |
| 185 cm
32
172
17 - 6 - 1 |
|
184 cm
42
170
40 - 22 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
|
Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Maxim Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dougal McCraken!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCraken avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McCraken fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ward manages to avoid it.
McCraken takes a swing at Ward's ribcage but misses.
McCraken pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCraken takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McCraken lands with a nice body punch.
Ward lands with an uppercut that bounces McCraken off the cage and back into range.
Ward throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCraken's waist but McCraken gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ward off to one side.
McCraken is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ward.
We've been informed that McCraken has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Ward tries a head kick but it misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ward, as that shot connected.
Ward defending well as McCraken loads up on a big left hand.
Decent striking displayed by McCraken there.
Ward feints and then cracks McCraken's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McCraken down.
Ward with a lazy takedown attempt
and McCraken counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCraken as he avoids it easily.
It seemed like McCraken was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from McCraken misses.
Ward connects with a nice looking jab.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCraken swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ward lands a nice hook to McCraken's body. McCraken takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward looks to land a right hand but McCraken moved out of range.
McCraken missing with a left hand there. Ward was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McCraken keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ward.
McCraken looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A swing and a miss from McCraken.
McCraken is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ward.
Nice jab there from Ward.
McCraken is looking to slow Ward down with leg kicks.
Ward cracks McCraken with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
McCraken throws a big shot that misses.
McCraken misses with an uppercut. Ward saw that one coming.
Ward attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McCraken looks to score with a jab to the body but Ward is just out of range.
Ward steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McCraken.
McCraken swings for the body but Ward moves out of range.
McCraken slips a straight right by Ward.
McCraken cracks Ward with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
McCraken uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ward.
Ward scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Maxim Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ward shoots in for a takedown but McCraken shows good takedown defense.
Ward on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ward fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch but McCraken swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ward tests McCraken's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McCraken cracks Ward with a good jab.
Ward goes for a double leg but McCraken avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as McCraken continues to drive forward.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McCraken! But no joy.
McCraken goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McCraken goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ward has dropped down and is working for a takedown. McCraken is trying to keep an underhook but Ward manages to get the takedown into half guard.
McCraken gets full guard.
McCraken is trying to keep Ward in close.
McCraken looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
McCraken is continuing to stall.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that McCraken has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McCraken working a defensive guard here.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McCraken gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ward.
Ward changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McCraken tries to avoid it but Ward manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McCraken to the ground. McCraken escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ward misses with a wild body shot.
McCraken ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ward avoids the body shot from McCraken.
McCraken misses with a wild body shot.
McCraken misses with a looping right.
Ward takes a swing at McCraken's ribcage but misses.
McCraken throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McCraken moves out of range of the strikes.
McCraken swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ward swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ward avoids the body shot from McCraken.
A jab from Ward misses.
Dougal McCraken is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McCraken bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but McCraken shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ward pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Dougal McCraken will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
McCraken with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McCraken throws a hook to the side of Ward's head but Ward sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ward throws a leg kick
and McCraken counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ward gets the takedown into side control.
Ward working away.
McCraken stops Ward from passing to mount.
McCraken can't do much from the bottom here.
McCraken is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward controls the position from side control.
McCraken gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McCraken wants to get back to full guard but Ward has passed into side control.
McCraken tries to improve position but can't.
Ward slows the pace down.
McCraken struggling a bit here.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but McCraken is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McCraken struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ward wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCraken keeps working.
Ward controls the position from side control.
You can see the frustration on McCraken's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McCraken is trying to get back to half guard.
Ward controlling from side mount.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward thumps McCraken with a low kick.
McCraken lands the left hand.
Ward throws a hook to the side of McCraken's head but McCraken sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McCraken throws a body shot but no joy.
McCraken misses with a leg kick.
Dougal McCraken seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ward doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from McCraken misses the target.
McCraken misses with a hook.
Ward has his takedown stuffed
letting McCraken counter with a right hand.
Ward wants to land a leg kick but McCraken is out of range.
McCraken throws a body punch but Ward moves out of range.
Ward appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ward misses the jab.
McCraken looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward looks to score with a jab to the body but McCraken is just out of range.
Ward digs a good body shot into McCraken's ribs.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch but McCraken swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCraken. Ward does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCraken throws a lazy right hand but Ward sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ward throws a lazy right hand but McCraken sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ward gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McCraken.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward shoots in and bounces McCraken off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McCraken has control of Ward's left arm, preventing Ward from doing any damage.
McCraken looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCraken not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Dougal McCraken will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
That kick from Ward tenderised McCraken's leg. McCraken is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ward looks to score with a jab to the body but McCraken is just out of range.
McCraken displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ward.
Ward throws a low kick but McCraken moves out of range easily.
Ward misses with an uppercut.
McCraken misses with an uppercut. Ward saw that one coming.
McCraken throws a solid leg kick but Ward takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McCraken.
McCraken takes a swing at Ward's ribcage but misses.
Ward cracks McCraken with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
McCraken walks into a stiff left hand from Ward.
Ward throws a right hand that misses
and McCraken counters with a left to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCraken ducks under a wild hook from Ward.
McCraken misses with a looping left.
Ward swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Good leg kick by McCraken.
Ward moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A slow jab from McCraken misses its intended target.
McCraken stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McCraken wants it to stay on the feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McCraken throws out a loose jab but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
No joy there for Ward, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ward swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McCraken.
McCraken throws a body shot but no joy.
McCraken checks a low kick from Ward.
McCraken is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ward with a body shot.
McCraken misses with a hook. Ward ducked under it nicely.
That kick from McCraken tenderised Ward's leg. Ward is trying to keep his angry face on.
McCraken thows a left - swing and a miss!
McCraken throws a body shot but no joy.
McCraken throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McCraken stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward misses with a right hand
and McCraken counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McCraken takes a swing at Ward's ribcage but misses.
McCraken takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ward displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCraken throws out the jab.
A counter left hand to the body from Ward misses its target.
Ward looks to land a combination but McCraken avoids it well.
Ward scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McCraken kicks off Ward and gets to his feet.
Maxim Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCraken staying out of range there.
Ward looks to land a right hand but McCraken moved out of range.
It seemed like McCraken was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ward misses with a left hand
and McCraken counters with a right hand to the body.
McCraken rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ward moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McCraken throws a body shot but no joy.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward connects with a single shot there.
McCraken jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McCraken gets caught flat footed, as Ward shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ward trying to control but McCraken is working from the bottom.
McCraken controlling Ward's posture.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward won't allow McCraken to get back to his feet.
McCraken is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dougal McCraken is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McCraken wants to stand but Ward is controlling the position.
McCraken manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ward pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ward swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McCraken throws out a counter right but Ward avoids it with no problem.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCraken keeps the fight on the outside.
Ward fails to land with a series of punches.
McCraken lands a two punch combo.
A chopping leg kick lands by McCraken.
McCraken uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ward.
McCraken lands a jab.
Ward shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCraken scores with a hook to the body. Ward takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
McCraken staying out of range there.
Ward misses with a few strikes there.
Ward loads up on a big right hand but McCraken slips the punch.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
McCraken lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ward at a distance.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dougal McCraken comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McCraken winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dougal McCraken!
Our winner, Dougal McCraken, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
57% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
